Prodigal

Lost Imperials, Book 2

By: Sherry Ficklin, Tyler Jolley

Narrated by: Gwendolyn Druyor

Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

Two journeys. One inescapable outcome. No time to lose.

Stein has been with the Hollows for as long as she can remember. Taken as a child, she has no memories of her past - and that's always been fine by her. Until the day she stumbles across a hidden journal containing the devastating truth about her paternity. Now everything she thought she knew - and everyone she thought she could trust - has changed. The truth about who she is and where she came from is a secret so deep, it will rock the Hollows and the Tesla Institute alike.

During a test to verify her bloodlines, Stein makes a terrible discovery. She is carrying a rare genetic mutation that is slowly killing her. Unsure who to turn to and running out of time, she has no choice but to turn to Tesla - her most hated enemy - for help. But can she trust the man who she's been fighting against her whole life, or will she end up another piece in his deadly game of cat and mouse with the people who betrayed her so long ago?

©2015 Sherry Ficklin (P)2015 sherry ficklin

More than steampunk. Tesla, genetics,& deep story

What did you like best about this story?

The story fascinated me from the beginning, feeling as it's well thought out world of gadgets and time travel along with the motives of the people. The world is full of nifty research and gadgets that could be and is used by the Rifters. There are people who live with enhancements with good reason. We also get time travel, but not as much of that is done. I also get the feel that there are rules and restrictions on using and when going in the time spectrum, but we don't see that side here.

We get to see Tesla! In the current time Tesla is only a brain that's wired into the Institutes speakers and cameras. He's a brilliant man and still working! But ooooh, he's a devilish man as well.

Have you listened to any of Gwendolyn Druyor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is the first time for me listening to Gwendolyn. I'll share what I enjoyed about it though. Gwendolyn did a splendid performance. Gwendolyn does a voice of Tesla through the speaker, and it sounds like it's coming through an old speaker! I really enjoyed Gwendolyn's interpretation of feelings through pauses when speaking. These really help hit home a spectrum of emotions depending on what's happening. She has the dreamy, tender feel to her voice as her rhythm smooths with longer pauses at moments of kisses to give use the feel they are sweet and lasting memories. Even when voices were to sound flat, she did it in the same vocal for the character.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wanted to keep listening as I wanted to know what was happening to Stein, and the others but mostly Stein as this story is about her. And what was everyone at Tesla's Institute up to, as it couldn't be good. In the end I kept watching the time left of the story as I feared we wouldn't get a complete ending, that we would end on a cliffhanger. There are a few speculations I have of Ember and Stein and I got some hints and answers. There is an ending, but there is also a revelation that has me scrambling to see where the next book is!

Any additional comments?

Wow. The prologue has a lot of information that had me pausing and noting questions I'm hoping to get answers to. The Hollows? Imperial children? Rifters? I'm curious of all these things but by the end I figured out Rifters are time travelers, and that's what the group of Hollows does. Then we see Catherine and her device that she's working on with Tesla's brain. Wow. That's one dangerous machine, and she doesn't come across as the kindest person either.

I think this is classified as steampunk. And in some ways it is. It has the elements present to be. But it also has other elements mixed in that makes the story deeper in the world of inventions. Is there a Teslapunk? Or New Electropunk? Whatever the classification, I loved all I found here!

*This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBlast dot com, at my request.

Listen to Book 1 First

I confess I was lost right from the beginning of this book. Steampunk does not hold much excitement for me anyway. Please listen to Book 1 first, as I wish I had done.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom dot com."

I will look for more books by these authors.

Well written light read, left me wanting more.

Narration was clear concise and enjoyable to listen to.

Intriquing story idea

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, if my friends were interested in Steam Punk, Science Fiction or Fantasy novels. It was a little hard for me to swallow one of my icons, Nikola Tesla, as a bad guy, I would have bought Thomas Edison as a bad guy no problem, however, he was nowhere near as smart as Tesla and it wouldn't have worked for the storyline, but I digress; once I got over my hero worship I was able to enjoy the story.

Stein is an enjoyable heroine, feisty and intelligent....she had decent instincts, but she didn't always listen to them which drove me a little batty, trust your gut, girl!

Would you recommend Prodigal to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, I liked this story well enough to purchase Extracted and Riven, the 1st and 3rd books of the series

Have you listened to any of Gwendolyn Druyor’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I really liked the narrator, she saved the book when it went a little predictable towards the end. I did listen at 1.25 speed, which is my usual speed, though I did try it out at 1 speed first.

Was Prodigal worth the listening time?

Yes, I can read a physical book faster but I do enjoy having the option of listening to a book while I clean the house.

Any additional comments?

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

Awesome Love this book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would this book was Awesome I really loved reading and listening to Steins story

What was one of the most memorable moments of Prodigal?

When Stein found the journal telling her who her parents really were. And the bloodlines test showing her rate mutation that is killing her.

Which character – as performed by Gwendolyn Druyor – was your favorite?

Stein but she really did all the characters justice

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes I did I cried for Stein when she found out about her mutation

Any additional comments?

I got this audio for a honest review from Sherry. Wow what a great book. I really felt for Stein when she found out that she is slowly dying and that she has to work with the person she hates the most to solve her problem. This book tells Stein finding out about her parentage and her background, in a journal she finds, that she can't remember. Stein is a really strong girl.

Good Story!

I don’t usually read many books from this genre, but I really enjoyed this one. The narration brought the story to life and held my interest throughout. The story was well thought out, complete and will keep you listening. I will be watching for this author in the future.

* I was provided a free copy of this book from AudioBookBlast for an honest review.

Enjoyable Quick Listen

What did you love best about Prodigal?

I really enjoyed the narrator. She was easy to listen to and did an excellent job voicing the characters. I would gladly listen to a book read by her anytime, I also think the author has some truly interesting concepts such as rifting (time travel).

Any additional comments?

Overall I enjoyed the book it was a quick listen and the narrator was excellent. The story almost seems to be a really good shortened version or outline of what could be an even better book. More flesh on the bones would really help. For example the main character and her group of friends are talking about going out on their own and the next thing you know it they are moving into their new base. I would like to have seen more details around how they managed to get away from the Hollowers? Was there conflict? Did they have to sneak out? There are numerous leaps in the story line that could and probably should be fleshed out. All in all a nice diversion and an enjoyable read.

Received free copy for an honest review

This has all the right ingredients, band of rebels, evil Tesla, time travel, anachronisms, kickass heroines. But it somehow fails to click. I didn't care for the band of misfits, the story takes too long to get to the interesting parts despite it being a short book, and it gets too talky, while skipping the action.

The audiobook has issues. Variances in volume, I think due to a bad compressor setting. There are some errors at the early parts, but gets ok later on. The phrases were cut awkwardly, with mixed takes and mismatched performances.